Two-Start Pitchers for Week 25 (Sept. 8 – 14)

With three weeks remaining in the fantasy baseball season, it’s all about attacking categories. Utilizing two-start pitchers can be a great way to boost our strikeout and win columns. However, we need to be selective about which two-steppers we choose, as they can also sink our ratios. As the season winds down, team context becomes even more critical in determining which two-start pitcher we roll with. If you’re chasing strikeouts, but need to be conservative with ERA or WHIP, now is not the time to mess around with mediocre starters who can rock your ratios. Conversely, if you don’t need to protect your ratios, you may be more willing to take a chance on dicier arms in a grab for strikeouts or wins.

This weekly write-up helps determine the best two-start pitchers of the week. Some two-starters are easy calls, while others require more thought. To help you decide, I rank the two-steppers into tiers, along with brief notes on each player.

Keep in mind that starting rotations often aren’t finalized until late in the weekend. As this write-up gets submitted on Saturday, you’ll want to check the league’s latest schedule of probable pitchers to make sure you’re up to date with the correct starters. With that, let’s look at the two-start pitchers for Week 25.

Don’t Overthink These Two-Start Pitchers

These are your set-it-and-forget-it arms for the week. Most are elite starting pitchers with strong matchups.

Garrett Crochet (SP — BOS)

First Start: @ ATH
Second Start: vs. NYY
Garrett Crochet is coming off his worst start of the season, surrendering a whopping four long balls and seven earned runs against the Guardians. Consider this an outlier start, and move on. Crochet will look to rebound against the Athletics, and while his two-step isn’t the easiest, he’s still a must-start ace.

Logan Webb (SP — SFG)

First Start: vs. ARI
Second Start: vs. LAD
Logan Weeb had a bumpy July, but it’s been smooth sailing since August. He’s flexing a 2.65 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in his last six starts (37.1 IP) with 39 punchouts and a 62.1% ground ball rate. It’s all systems go for Webb this week.

Nick Lodolo (SP — CIN)

First Start: @ SDP
Second Start: @ ATH
Nick Lodolo is rocking a 2.60 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in five second-half starts. He’s also mowing down batters with a 13.2% swinging-strike rate. Lodolo is an easy set-it-and-forget-it arm.

Bryan Woo (SP — SEA)

First Start: vs. STL
Second Start: vs. LAA
Bryan Woo is coming off a down start, but has a prime opportunity to bounce back this week. He gets a favorable two-step, as both the Cardinals and Angels are bottom-three in OPS against righties since August. Start Woo with confidence in shallow formats.

Shota Imanaga (SP — CHC)

First Start: @ ATL
Second Start: vs. TBR
Shota Imanaga has looked sharp of late. Since the beginning of August, he’s limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in all of his last six starts. He’s sporting a 2.93 ERA (3.88 SIERA) and 0.76 WHIP in that 40-inning stretch with 34 strikeouts. The Ks are on the lighter side, but Imanaga is a nice start if you’re chasing WHIP and wins, and is a strong bet to pick up a quality start or two.

Roll With These Two-Start Pitchers

These are solid two-starters for the week. While they come with more risk than the arms above, you’re likely rolling with these two-steppers in Week 25.

George Kirby (SP — SEA)

First Start: vs. STL
Second Start: vs. LAA
The Rays pummeled George Kirby in his latest start to the tune of seven earned runs across two innings. Surprisingly, it was the second seven-run game that Kirby allowed in his last four starts. Yeesh. However, he’s too good of an arm to leave on the bench for a two-step — especially when both matchups are at home and against mediocre offenses. Fire up Kirby as usual.

Luis Morales (SP — ATH)

First Start: vs. BOS
Second Start: vs. CIN
Luis Morales has killed it since entering the rotation. In five starts, he’s sporting a 1.37 ERA (3.63 SIERA) and 0.91 WHIP with a more than healthy 29.4% strikeout rate. Luck has played a part, as Morales stranded 94% of runners and posted a .200 BABIP in this stretch. However, Morales still makes a solid play in shallow formats if you’re chasing Ks, despite a tough matchup against the Red Sox.

Ryan Bergert (SP — KCR)

First Start: @ CLE
Second Start: @ PHI
Ryan Bergert has been nothing short of impressive this season. He’s limited opponents to three runs or fewer in all of his 13 starts, while fanning a batter per inning. His 10.9% walk rate isn’t ideal, but Bergert has been great at curbing hits, sporting a 1.14 WHIP as a result. Bergert’s start against the Phillies could be tricky, but he’s become a weekly must-start at this point.

Yu Darvish (SP — SDP)

First Start: vs. CIN
Second Start: vs. COL
Yu Darvish has been dealing the Ks recently. He boosted his strikeout rate from 17.5% in his first five starts to 27% in his last six starts. He’s also rocking a 1.04 WHIP in that 28-inning stretch. Darvish’s 5.14 ERA is less than ideal, but it comes with a much more palatable 3.67 SIERA. Darvish gets an appealing two-step this week with two home starts against mediocre-at-best offenses. He’s a solid play in all formats in Week 25.

How Lucky Do You Feel About These Two-Start Pitchers?

This is the tier of tough decisions, with most of these two-start options best suited for 15-team leagues. These are primarily riskier starters who could bloat your ratios if things go south. Tread carefully.

Cade Cavalli (SP — WAS)

First Start: @ MIA
Second Start: vs. PIT
Cade Cavalli is coming off a nice bounce-back game against the Marlins, firing off five innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts. A rematch is on tap this week, along with a friendly matchup against the Pirates. There’s some ratio risk with Cavalli, but he’s a solid option if you’re chasing strikeouts (8.49 K/9) in 15-teamers.

Jose Quintana (SP — MIL)

First Start: @ TEX
Second Start: vs. STL
If you’re chasing wins, Jose Quintana isn’t a bad option. He’s limited opponents to three earned runs or less in seven of his nine second-half starts, posting a 4.35 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 49.2 innings with 35 Ks. The strikeouts aren’t there, but the opposing matchups this week aren’t too scary, and Quintana shouldn’t torpedo the ratios.

Sean Manaea (SP — NYM)

First Start: @ PHI
Second Start: vs. TEX
If you need strikeouts and don’t care about your ratios, Sean Manaea is your man. He’s rocking a 28.5% strikeout rate over his last six starts (27.2 IP) to go with a 7.81 ERA (3.05 SIERA) and 1.48 WHIP. Team context is key here.

Jose Berrios (SP — TOR)

First Start: vs. HOU
Second Start: vs. BAL
We know who Jose Berrios is at this point — a 4.00 ERA and 1.30 talent who strikes out batters at a 20% clip. And while he’s typically an innings eater, it’s worth noting that Berrios has only made it to the sixth inning twice in eight of his second-half starts. But the win opportunity is there, making Berrios a decent two-start option in 15-teamers this week.

Yoendrys Gomez (SP — CWS)

First Start: vs. TBR
Second Start: @ CLE
Yoendrys Gomez has been solid in his five starts this year, posting a 3.42 ERA (4.24 SIERA) and 1.31 WHIP across 23.2 frames. We also can’t complain about a 25.5% strikeout rate in that stretch. While Gomez doesn’t pitch deep into games, he’s a decent option in deeper formats if you’re in the market for Ks. His two-start is more favorable than not, and he shouldn’t kill your ratios. You may even walk away with a win.

Nabil Crismatt (SP — ARI)

First Start: @ SFG
Second Start: @ MIN
In deeper leagues, Nabil Crismatt could prove helpful. Over four appearances (three starts), he’s sporting a 2.14 ERA (4.57 SIERA) and 1.33 WHIP with 14 strikeouts over 21 frames. The Ks aren’t there, but if you’re in the hunt for wins, Crismatt could do you a solid without killing your ratios.

Forget About These Two-Start Pitchers

This tier is pretty straightforward. If you roll with these two-start pitchers, you’re playing with fire. Fuhgeddaboudit!

Eury Perez (SP — MIA)

First Start: vs. WAS
Second Start: vs. DET
It’s tough to recommend Eury Perez this week. He’s coming off two brutal starts where he allowed a combined 12 earned runs and four homers across 4.2 innings with a 2:3 K:BB. One of those starts was against the Nationals, who Perez faces again this week. He then finishes the week with a matchup against a tricky Tigers team. It’s best to exercise caution with Perez, as he could submarine your ratios.

Joey Wentz (SP — ATL)

First Start: vs. CHC
Second Start: vs. HOU
In nine starts since moving to the rotation, Joey Wentz maintains 4.14 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 41 strikeouts across 45.2 innings. While that plays, Wentz struggles against formidable opponents, which is what he faces with the Cubs and Astros in Week 25. Wentz is a decent-ish option if you’re hunting Ks. But it’s a risky move, as both starts could go sideways.

Will Warren (SP — NYY)

First Start: vs. DET
Second Start: @ BOS
Since August, Will Warren has posted a 2.97 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across six starts (30.1 IP) with a 25:9 K:BB. However, a 4.55 xFIP and 4.44 SIERA indicate he’s been lucky. With a tough two-step on deck, regression could hit this week — especially since Warren allowed at least four earned runs in both of his previous starts against the Red Sox this year. There’s some win upside here, but I’d tread carefully here if you can’t afford a ratio hit.

Aaron Nola (SP — PHI)

First Start: vs. NYM
Second Start: vs. KCR
Aaron Nola has surrendered at least four earned runs in three of his four starts since returning from the IL. While he still struck out a batter per inning in that 19.1-inning stretch, he also posted an elevated 8.38 ERA (4.15 SIERA) and 1.50 WHIP. Both the Mets and Royals have been top-eight in OPS against righties since August. Nola is a risky play this week.

Noah Cameron (SP — KCR)

First Start: @ CLE
Second Start: @ PHI
It looks like Noah Cameron has hit a wall. His strikeouts are down and his walks are up, which is not what we want to see. In his last five starts, Cameron registered an unappealing 14.2% strikeout rate and 10.6% walk rate, as well as a 4.21 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. While his ERA may not seem like a deal-breaker, it comes with a 5.27 xFIP and 5.54 SIERA. Cameron’s matchup against the Guardians could be fine, but the Phillies could be another story. I don’t see much reward here, especially if Cameron is fading down the stretch.

Adrian Houser (SP — TBR)

First Start: @ CWS
Second Start: @ CHC
Adrian Houser has been pretty underwhelming since his trade to Tampa Bay. He’s allowed at least four earned runs in four of six starts with the Rays to go with a 27:10 K:BB across 33 innings. Houser’s 18.5% strikeout rate in that stretch doesn’t move the needle, either. He’s best left on the bench for his Chicago two-step.

Slade Cecconi (SP — CLE)

First Start: vs. KCR
Second Start: vs. CWS
Slade Cecconi has coughed up 5+ earned runs in three of his last five starts. One of those poor starts came against the White Sox, which Cecconi will face this week. There’s not a lot of warm and fuzzies here.

Kyle Hendricks (SP — LAA)

First Start: vs. MIN
Second Start: @ SEA
Elevated ratios and low strikeouts aren’t what we want from our two-steppers. But if you’re in the market for wins, Kyle Hendricks could snag one this week. Just make sure you don’t need to protect your ratios.

Simeon Woods Richardson (SP — MIN)

First Start: @ LAA
Second Start: vs. ARI
Control issues have plagued Simeon Woods Richardson of late. He issued 12 walks over his last four starts (16 IP), fueling a 1.71 WHIP and 7.16 ERA (5.59 SIERA). While Woods Richardson still fanned a batter per inning, the risk outweighs the reward here. Woods Richardson should be on the bench this week.

Janson Junk (SP — MIA)

First Start: vs. WAS
Second Start: vs. DET
Jansen Junk will be activated following a 15-day stint on the IL with an elbow injury, which is reason enough to avoid him this week. But if that doesn’t sway you, his 5.97 ERA (4.72 SIERA), 1.30 WHIP and 14.6% strikeout rate over seven second-half starts should do the trick.

Miles Mikolas (SP — STL)

First Start: @ SEA
Second Start: @ MIL
Miles Mikolas offers little fantasy juice with a 14.7% strikeout rate. Plus, the Mariners and Brewers aren’t ideal teams to stream against.

German Marquez (SP — COL)

First Start: @ LAD
Second Start: @ SDP
German Marquez offers bloated ratios to go with a 6.27 K/9 and 3.43 BB/9. That’s not gonna cut it against the Dodgers and Padres this week. Plus, we don’t start Rockies pitchers in two-steps.

Mitchell Parker (SP — WAS)

First Start: @ MIA
Second Start: vs. PIT
On paper, Mitchell Parker’s two-step is appealing. But we can’t trust Parker in our lineups. He holds a 9.28 ERA (4.99 SIERA) and 1.72 WHIP over his last seven starts (32 IP) with a 7.9% K-BB. Blegh. Ugly stats and little win opportunity? No, thank you.

Caden Dana (SP — LAA)

First Start: vs. MIN
Second Start: @ SEA
I’m not wild about rolling with a pitcher who has only one big-league start under his belt this season. Plus, a 5.05 BB/9 across 18 starts in Triple-A this year doesn’t help Caden Dana’s case.

Jacob Latz (SP — TEX)

First Start: vs. MIL
Second Start: @ NYM
Jacob Latz is an easy fade this week. He’s a bullpen arm with an 11% walk rate on the year (68.2 IP). Not to mention, he gets a brutal two-step against the Brewers and Mets this week.

Sawyer Gipson-Long (SP — DET)

First Start: @ NYY
Second Start: @ MIA
You don’t want to mess around by putting Sawyer Gipson-Long into your lineup. He’s still being stretched out and faces the Yankees at the start of the week. There are better two-start options.

Chase Dollander (SP — COL)

First Start: @ LAD
Second Start: @ SDP
Chase Dollander struggles with control (4.55 BB/9) and brings elevated ratios to the fantasy table. He’s an easy no-go in Week 25.